family, friends, food, photography

Post navigation

One of my favorite cakes to make for the non-cake people out there is this Buttery Raspberry Lemon Cake that I cut out of Sunset magazine. Do non-cake eaters really exist, you ask? Yes and my sister is one of them. I have made this cake on several occasions, including my sister’s birthday, and it is simple and delicious. It was also the perfect thing to make on a busy weekend when I was in charge of bringing dessert to a family dinner. But, the fact that I not only made the cake amidst the constant chaos that is my home on the weekends and managed to take a few photos is the small victory.

This is one of the most important things that I took home from the amazing workshop I did a few weeks ago. It doesn’t have to be some huge production to take a styled food photo. You just need great natural light (which fortunately I have an abundance of in my house), a nice surface (one of which I painted at the workshop) and a simple display of what you have made. While perhaps someday I will have the time to shoot beautiful step-by-step instructions like Joy the Baker, another favorite of mine, for now I will be happy with a few shots I am proud of and a very tasty cake.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of (finally) attending Todd Porter & Diane Cu’s (whiteonricecouple.com) photography and food styling workshop. They are my favorite food stylists and photographers and I have been wanting to attend this for a very long time. I am so happy to say it completely exceeded my expectations.

I have been hesitant to write about the experience because it is almost too difficult to describe. It was this beautiful amalgamation of the most creative and generous instructors combined with an amazingly talented small group of artists, time and space to style and shoot as much as we wanted, delicious homemade meals and a prop room to die for. Then you top that off with boozy pops and sea salt iced coffee and you have yourself an incredible weekend workshop. Also, I had an added bonus because my talented and fabulous photographer friend, Cortney, come down from Olympia to attend with me.

The true joy of the workshop is the amount of heart and soul that Todd and Diane put in to it. Their passion for the work and the generosity in which they share their creativity was so refreshing and inspiring. I am proud of the work I did during the course of the weekend. I am also in awe of what the other students created. Below are a few of my favorite shots I took over two very rewarding days.

Macarons – It’s a Party

The Cookie Stack

Dark & Moody Herb Salt

Pears and my favorite color combination

A French Country Picnic

Persimmons

Persimmons

Persimmons

Persimmons

Persimmons

Carrots

Fresh Tomatoes & Basil (and I got it in one shot!)

Cocktail Hour

Now for the speed round. This was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. Well this and the boozy pops. Diane styled 13 sets and we had 40 seconds per scene to analyze the light, set our camera and shoot. It was exhilarating and exhausting.

…which obviously turned into June madness and a little July madness since I am just getting around to writing about Ollie’s birthday.

My sister and I are often accused of not having a birthDAY but a birthMONTH. I want to deny it, but it’s true. Why should you only get one day out of the whole year to celebrate your arrival on this earth? I have kept that tradition alive with my son Ollie, and this year it was a doozy. We had a party at his school with Hungry Caterpillar cupcakes; dinner and games at Chuck E. Cheese’s; a big house party with all his preschool friends and friends around the city plus all my friends (which turns out can fill a house, balconies and a large yard); and finally, a four-day vacation to Disneyland, California Adventure and a very silly, fun water park at our Howard Johnson’s (courtesy of Nana & Papa). He is one lucky boy and I am one exhausted Mama. Throw in a preschool graduation and the month was complete.

I am definitely grateful for all the inspiration I found to make cupcakes, cake and theme food. The Internet is a powerful tool, and in the hands of a mom set on making a birthday special: watch out! I was also able to use natural food dyes this year for most of the cakes and cupcakes, and that made me very happy.

Ollie’s Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes were a big hit at the school. The kids recognized it right away and in true gender-specific form, the boys shouted that they wanted to eat the “head” and the girls explained that the head was for Ollie since it was his birthday.

“On Ollie’s birthday he ate through 15 cupcakes.”

“That night he had a stomachache!”

Next up was a Toy Story party. We had theme food, a big cake, cupcakes and theme games.

However, the games quickly dissolved into a four-hour water fight with all the kids and most of the dads joining in; ending with two moms in my kitchen pumping out water balloons and “shipping them out” to the kids on the front.

In the midst of the fight…

Sneak attack by the dads

Bombs away!

We did manage to get the kids to put down the water shooters with the enticement of cake! I tried something a bit new with Ollie’s cake this year and I was very pleased with the results. A big thank you to my mom for cutting out all the stars and clouds by hand. Having never used sugar sheets before, I had no idea you couldn’t use a cookie cutter on them. Another midnight decorating adventure with my mother. As well, a big thank you to Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe for the design inspiration.

Mom cutting sugar sheets into the wee hours

Trying to be chill about Ollie “helping” decorate the cake

I think he likes it

Attacking the cake

PS – every kid gets to take a big bite out of the cake if they want. A tradition started on his 3rd birthday when his Elmo cake was devoured by three 3-year-olds having the time of their lives!